It seems these days Hines Ward can’t keep himself out of the news.
Steeler nation was shocked, as was I, after Hines posted a recent Facebook profile update leaving many fans scratching their heads.
“Just curious…anyone on here live in or near Charlotte, NC?:) I’ll tell you why I’m asking in the very near future…:) Stay tuned!”
Yea I know what your thinking… I may be inferring a lot from a simple Facebook profile update, but what if Hines was actually hanging up his cleats for good and moving out of Pittsburgh?
Never mind the fact that Hines is only 46 receptions away from 1,000 during his almost sure fire Hall of Fame career, or the fact that he is only 300 yards away from breaking the 12,000 career receiving yards mark.
I still think Hines has a lot left in the tank for the game of football, and for the Steelers. On the biggest stage of the season, in last year’s Super Bowl, Hines caught seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Those are not the numbers of someone who is ready to give up the game.
While Hines is coming off a mediocre season for his standards with 59 receptions, 755 receiving yards, and five touchdowns, he managed to average his second highest yards per catch ratio in the last five years.
But talking about Hine’s statistics does not provide justice for the intangibles he brings to the Steeler’s locker room. With such a young receiving core surrounding Hines, he remains Roethlisberger’s most trusted receiver on the field, and the teams greatest redzone passing option.
Second year receiver Emmanuel Sanders has said that Hines has already taught him so much about playing the receiver position, and that Hines brings a special toughness to the football field.
We all remember Hine’s hit on Ravens safety Ed Reed from a few years back, but if you don’t remember, just want to see Hines knock out Reed again…here is the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QGKlluCU0o
Hines is undoubtedly the Steeler’s emotional leader on the field, and in the locker room. He has been to three Super Bowls, and was crowned MVP of Super Bowl 40…..please don’t get angry again Seattle fans, you have commented enough on this site over the last week to last a lifetime. While his numbers may be slightly slipping, the Steelers will need the leadership and stability Hines provides, especially if training camp is cut short by the lockout.
I do believe that Mike Wallace could handle taking over the definitive No. 1 receiver spot for this season. He has shown he is more than capable of being the go-to guy. Sanders and Antonio Brown, while young, are also capable of stepping up and creating a very formidable receiving core. And who knows, we may even see a Plaxico sighting in the Burgh this year.
If Hines really was planning on calling it quits after 13 years in the league, we would be saying good-bye to a man the epitomizes exactly what is meant by “playing Steeler football.”
I always knew Hines would go out holding a championship trophy…I just didn’t think it would be a Mirror Ball.